episode_0005

On the way back to Bahran, I opened the status window and started playing around with things.

“Usually, you can increase your ability by pressing it.”

I pressed my finger where the strength value was written. As if my guess was correct, a new blue window appeared.

[Would you like to increase your strength by 1 with 100 Karma?]

[Yes/No]

100 karma?

I checked the remaining karma.

Remaining Karma: 0

There wasn’t one.

‘How do you get karma?’

I thought about it carefully, but I couldn’t figure it out in my current state. My head was filled with thoughts about the status window until I reached the city.

* * *

As soon as I arrived in the city, I headed to where I buried the money.

“Calix That bastard probably didn’t touch it…”

I took out my money bag and counted every coin. Fortunately, the money did not decrease.

“It’s too late to go back now, right?”

The sun hasn’t set yet, but it will be soon. I decided to leave early tomorrow morning and tried to get into the cabin. But something suddenly occurred to me, so I turned around.

“Hey.”

He called out to a beggar who was sitting on the floor and looking up at the sky. She was a female beggar with long, curly hair.

“What is it? Huh..?”

The beggar who answered nervously looked at me and opened his eyes wide. The beggar pointed to himself.

“Me, me?”

“Who else is here besides you?”

“Why, why? I was just sitting…”

The beggar got up and took a small step back. Before he ran away, I raised both my hands and told him I had no intention of harming him.

“Let’s just ask one thing.”

“Ask..? What?”

“The Masked Group is going to war with the new guys. How is it going?”

“Oh, that story?”

The beggar sighed as if relieved.

“It’s not difficult to tell the story…that…”

The beggar looked at me and rolled his eyes. I clicked my tongue because I knew what that meant.

“Just try not to say anything.”

I took out a 1 copper coin and threw it to him. The beggar took the coin, laughed, and put it in his arms.

“Okay, then I’ll tell you.”

The story I heard from the beggar was shocking.

“The mask group was pushed back..?”

Just yesterday, there was a big clash between the Masked Group and Roxy’s organization, and there was news that the Masked Group was pushed out.

“I think I heard that the newly created organization can only have about 20 people. Is that possible?”

As I remember, the number of members of the masked group was over forty. There were more than 20 thugs who crossed over from Kalita, but even so, they were pushed back?

“I was also very surprised? But it turned out that it was worth it.”

“It was worth it?”

The beggar looked at me and did not open his mouth.

I frowned.

“1 copper would be enough.”

“Ugh, yes that’s right! Not enough! So, the reason why the masked group was pushed back is…”

The beggar explained why the masked group was pushed back.

“Is that real?”

“It’s true! I have no reason to lie!”

“Of course it is. But damn mana…”

Among Roxy’s gang, there is someone who knows how to use mana. In that case, it is understandable that the mask group was pushed back.

Because there is a huge difference between people who know how to use mana and people who don’t.

But the mana that only knights and high-ranking adventurers use is only used by a gangster. I couldn’t believe it.

“So what happened to the masked group?”

“From what I heard, they are preparing for revenge, but in fact, it can be said that it is over. They say Roxy took control of this business after the Mask Corps withdrew.”

“Already?”

I shook my head with a tired expression.

Work is done too quickly. If this is the case, it would be true that I came here with a lot of intention. In my heart, I thought it was a good thing I didn’t fall under Calix’s control.

“Okay, I heard you right.”

I threw another 1 copper coin to the beggar. I left behind the beggar with a bright face and entered the hut.

* * *

I left early the next morning and arrived in the village around dark. It was thanks to walking fast.

This time, instead of stopping by Seris’ house, I headed straight to the village chief’s house.

The village chief’s house was larger than the other houses, as if to show his authority. I knocked on the door of that house.

“Who are you?”

It was the voice of a middle-aged woman. I cleared my voice.

“I was a traveler passing through the village and came here to see the village chief.”

“Oh, is that so? Please come in.”

I followed the middle-aged woman into the house. The village chief’s house was spacious and had several rooms, unlike Cerise’s house, which was as narrow as a studio.

I went into the room I was guided to and waited for the village chief.

After a while, the door was opened and the village chief came in. He was an old man with a face full of wrinkles. I got up from my chair and greeted him.

“So, you came because you wanted to meet me? Are you looking for a place to spend the night?”

The village chief touched his beard and said. I shook my head slightly.

“No. The reason I wanted to see the village chief was for another reason.”

“Any other reasons?”

“I would like to settle down in this town.”

“Hmm? Oh, are you the boy Ceris was talking about?”

“Yes? Did Ceris tell you about me?”

“Yes. He asked me to take good care of him because he might come visit me soon.”

I was a little surprised by the village chief’s words.

I can’t believe Seris asked such a request. It seems that reading the letter was very important to her.

You succeeded in leaving a good impression. When I felt a little relieved, the village chief narrowed his eyes and looked at me.

“I guess something happened with you Ceris?”

It was clearly a look of suspicion.

As someone who has to send Seris to a nobleman, he probably doesn’t want to get caught for no reason.

I answered calmly.

“Don’t worry. I too am someone who knows the topic. I know very well that I am not the right person for you, Ceris.”

The village chief chuckled as if he was satisfied with my answer.

“Yes, knowing the topic is the secret to longevity. You are a wise man.”

“Thank you.”

“So, you said you wanted to settle down in the village, right? Good. It seems like Seris guarantees what you will become, so trust me. But there are no houses left in the village now. I’ll have to stay at Gedric’s tavern for a while.”

“Yes, I understand. And the village chief, this…”

“Hmm? What is this?”

“This is my small token of sincerity.”

It was a pouch containing 5 silver.

It’s a huge amount of money for a small sign of prowess.

However, considering the territoriality of the villagers that I would experience, it was right not to spare me.

Because the quest shouldn’t be blocked by territoriality.

“I heard that the village is having a hard time these days because of the goblins. I hope this will be of some help…”

“Uh-huh, this guy. That’s it. Leave it in.”

Saying things you don’t even mean to say.

“No. I am now a member of the village. I will be disappointed if you do not accept it.”

“Keuhm.. Is that so? Come to think of it, yes. You may feel left out. Hehehe.”

The village chief smiled and put the money bag into his arms.

“Come here. I’ll guide you to Gedric’s tavern.”

The village chief seemed to be in a good mood and personally took me to the tavern. He explained the situation to Gedric and even obtained his understanding.

Thanks to this, I was able to find a comfortable place to stay.

* * *

“Yuseong, please bring one oak barrel from the basement.”

“Yes.”

A week has passed since I stayed in the village.

When I woke up in the morning, I helped out at the bar.

“Seris, Yoosung will have a hard time alone, so please help him.”

“Yes. Yoosung, let’s go together.”

I am not the only one helping out at the bar. Cerise also came to help with work every day.

Thanks to this, I had a lot of time to chat with Seris. Cerise also treated me kindly, so it didn’t take much time for me to become friends with her.

“Ugh..tea!”

Ceris held an oak barrel full of beer alone. Even though this is a small oak barrel, it would weigh over 80kg.

I was purely amazed by her strength.

“Can’t I just carry it up by myself?”

“What are you talking about? Just lifting it is difficult. Please help me quickly…”

She whined while holding the oak barrel. I quickly joined in and shared the oak barrel.

Even after moving the oak barrels, we did all kinds of odd jobs.

The work finished around noon. Seris received daily wages from Gedric. Since I was helping out instead of staying here, I did not receive a daily wage.

“Is it that good?”

I asked, looking at Seris who was smiling brightly.

“Of course. I received 1 copper more, of course it was good.”

I had to get 1 more copper to get 3 copper. I felt sorry for Cerise’s smile.

“Where should we go now?”

“I have to stop by the house, grab something to eat, and then go to Uncle Ron’s field.”

“Is this Uncle Ron? They say they don’t give much money there.”

“I don’t have anywhere else to work today. I have to go there at least.”

“Take some rest. It’s been a week since I came here and I haven’t seen you rest.”

“Do you rest at night?”

“Is that what you mean by rest? Anyway…”

As I was opening the bar door, I saw a gap at the bottom of the door. There was a shadow in the light coming through the gap.

“Seris, I think you’re here again.”

“Ha…”

“Looks like he never gets tired of it.”

I opened the door. A large man was standing in front of the door.

“Seris… What is it, Han Yu-seong?”

This is Lian, the grandson of the village chief. Ryan looked at me and looked disappointed.

“Uh, it’s me. Did you come to see Seris today too?”

“Okay. So stop worrying and go on your way.”

“Sure.”

I went down to the bar yard. Because I had to take an ax with me to go chop wood. Behind me, Rian said something.

“Han Yu-seong, you’ve been hanging out with Seris these days. Just try doing weird things to her. Don’t leave me alone”

“Are you saying this is strange? What are you talking about?”

“Huh? Wow! Seris! Since when has it been there?”

“From the beginning. What do you mean by the strange thing you said earlier?”

Lian became restless at Seris’ words. Something as big as a bear looks embarrassed in front of Ceris…

“Well, that guy might do something harsh to you…”

“Yuseong doesn’t do that.”

“No, Seris, all men are beasts! That guy may look like that on the outside, but on the inside…”

“Rian.”

Seris said with a stiff face.

“Yuseong is a good person. I’m not the type of person to do something like that. And even if something like that happens, it’s a matter between me and Yoosung, and not something you should interfere with. So pay no mind.”

“Se, Seris…”

“Yoosung, did you take the axe?”

“Huh? Oh, I got it.”

“Then let’s go. Lian, I’ll go first.”

“Huh? Ceris?!”

Seris walked this way without even looking back. I walked next to her and glanced back. Lian was glaring at me murderously.

“…Ceris, you should have been a little gentler. If that guy does that, he’ll be a bother to me.”

“If that happens, tell me. Because I will say something.”

It was a thorny voice that was uncharacteristic of Seris.

“Do you hate that guy that much?”

“Yes.”

It was an immediate answer.

Well, they say they don’t like it, but if they come every day, it’s worth it. I’m tired of seeing that face even though I’ve only lived there for a week, but I wonder if Ceris is young.

I told Cerys a few jokes to lighten her mood. Thanks to this, Cerise’s mood seemed to have calmed down a bit before we parted ways.

“Thank you. Mr. Yoosung.”

“If you are grateful, please carry the oak barrel alone from next time.”

“If I break it and eat it, will Yoosung take responsibility?”

“That’s not it.”

I laughed and broke up with her. Now it’s time to go to the mountains to cut wood. I headed to the wooden entrance to leave the village.

However, villagers were gathered near the entrance to the fence. I looked to see what was going on,

“Huh? What is that?

At the entrance to the wooden fence stood some green-skinned dwarves.

“It’s a goblin.”

A village young man told me. Perhaps because the village chief spoke well to the villagers, they did not become territorial towards me.

“Goblin? What is that?”

“Yes. Haven’t you ever seen one while going out to cut wood?”

“Mr. Gedric told me not to go deep into the mountain. So, when I first saw it, it looked like something.”

The goblins’ bodies were like children’s, but their faces were like those of a devil.

“But what does the village chief do with those guys?”

“The village chief knows how to talk to goblins.”

“Really?”

Talking to a goblin? I thought it would be an interesting sight, so I walked closer.

-Klick! Meat and alcohol! When are you going to release it!

“The situation in the village is a bit difficult these days. We will prepare quickly, so please be patient.”

ok?

“Hey, the village chief said he knows how to talk to goblins, and goblins speak human language.”

“What? What do you mean, a goblin speaks human language?”

The guy next to me looked at me strangely.

“If those guys knew how to speak Korean in the first place, the village chief wouldn’t have had such a hard time.”

“…Huh?”

Something is strange.

No matter how much I listen, it sounds like those goblins are speaking human language, but not this guy.

what?

I wondered why this contradiction arose. Then I was able to come to one conclusion.

‘Fuck, I never thought I could even understand a goblin.’

I thought I could only understand human language, but that wasn’t the case.

Seeing as I can understand the goblin language, I think I can easily speak other languages…

“I should have become an interpreter. That sucks.”

Why did I live such a miserable life, doing pickpocketing?

I felt ashamed and sighed.

I looked blankly at the sky and waited for the goblins to disappear from the entrance to the fence.

-3 days! The chief said he would give me 3 days! If you don’t get ready within 3 days, this village will be over!

“Ah, I understand. I will prepare on time.”

As I listened to the conversation, I understood how the situation worked.

It seems that this village lives by paying tribute to the goblins.

“But why are you a goblin?”

“What?”

“No, why would the village chief bow down to the goblin?”

“Oh, you don’t know because you just came to the village? Hey, do you see that mountain?”

“It looks good.”

“Hundreds of goblins live there.”

“…What?”

“To be exact, they live spread out across the entire mountain range.”

“No, what… What about the lord? What did the soldiers do until that happened?”

“I don’t know. Adults say I asked for this several times, but why doesn’t he come?”

The young man said with slight irritation. It seemed like he didn’t like the goblins either.

While I was surprised by the scale being bigger than I expected, the goblin said something unusual.

-female! Give me the woman too!

“Yes?! Why…isn’t it our turn yet…”

-Lower village! Instead of giving up the woman, they called another human and attacked us! So I killed them all! Now it’s your turn!

“Such…”

The village chief looked troubled.